A Cowboy for the Twins by Melinda Curtis is a fun read. The story has two high school classmates reuniting after several years. The hero, Tate, had a crush and was in love with Ellie, but she broke his heart by choosing his best friend, Buck.
The story begins with Ellie returning to her dad’s ranch, now divorced from Buck who fooled around on her. She wants to make her dad’s sheep ranch profitable and is trying to raise her twin daughters. As the two spend time at the rodeos and helping each other, their feelings grow, but both must let go of past issues to finally have their happily ever after. They must navigate through hurt feelings, but thankfully Ellie’s twin girls and her grandmother push the relationship along as they become the humorous matchmakers.
The story is engaging, humorous with quirky and relatable characters.
Elise Cooper: Idea for the story?
Melinda Curtis: I grew up on my grandfather’s sheep ranch. To me, it was interesting to find out how these sheep ranchers survive. I wanted the heroine to come home to a sheep ranch and try to figure out how to make it work. Plus, someone I know raises llamas. This was a leap to having the hero’s mom raising alpacas, a lucrative type of wool. I like to draw on something from the past.
EC: How would you describe the hero, Tate?
MC: He is a confirmed bachelor who cannot say no. He is guarded, loyal, vulnerable, funny, and kind. He must get over his feeling of abandonment. Because of this, he needs people to like him.
EC: How would you describe the heroine, Ellie?
MC: Stubborn, detailed, caring, and sincere.
EC: What about the relationship?
MC: Ellie did not expect it to happen. Tate was hurt by her in high school and now is unsettled about his feelings for her. There is easy banter between them. She feels frustrated by him because he is putting up walls. Both do not want to acknowledge the attraction and depth of feelings between them.
EC: What about the grandma, Gigi?
MC: Outspoken, direct, she is the truth sayer, someone who tells it like it is.
EC: What was the role of Prince the horse?
MC: Tate needed to embrace the fact that the horse was a worker more than a pet. The horse was a symbol: how Tate can get ahead if he stops being so much a pleaser.
EC: Does Ellie’s twin girls also play a role?
MC: They say the truth. They like to give advice. They have an answer for everything. They are Yin and Yang. One is prissy and the other is cowboyish. Together they are a force, which I use for comic relief.
EC: Please explain the quote, “You can’t neglect your own needs and dreams for someone else’s.”
MC: Self-care is not selfish. Reaching for their dreams was self-care.
EC: Next book(s)?
MC: The next book is A Cowgirl Never Forgets, part of the Blackwell series, out in July. It is a story about two best friends that work for the rodeo. It will be a cross series with this one, the “Cowboy Academy Series.” The hero gets tossed by a bull to protect the heroine. He gets temporary amnesia, and everything goes from there.
Later in August will be another book in this series titled Rodeo Star’s Reunion. The hero, Griff, helps the high school rodeo team. His son will finally find out Griff is his father.
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